Report: Iowa Gaming Commission launching investigation into Hawkeyes baseball team

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission launched an investigation into the Iowa Hawkeyes’ baseball team after players were suspended for the series against Ohio State, according to Darren Rovell of the Action Network.

This news came after Alabama fired head coach Brad Bohannon amid a betting scandal that was uncovered during the Crimson Tide’s series against LSU. Now, an investigation was launched in Iowa.

Four Iowa players weren’t present this past weekend, including infielder Keaton Anthony and pitcher Jacob Henderson.

Anthony appeared in all 43 games for Iowa prior to the Friday and Saturday contests against the Buckeyes.

“The email from Iowa’s gaming commission came on the heels of the university announcing on Friday that they withheld ‘some student-athletes’ from its upcoming games ‘due to a potential violation,’” Rovell wrote. “Sam Basler, the assistant director of communications for Iowa’s athletic department, did not respond when asked if the suspensions pertained to gambling.

Steve Roe, the athletic department’s communications director, told the Action Network ‘we don’t have anything further at this time.’”

Brian Ohorilko, the director of gaming or the state’s commission, released a statement.

“The commission takes the integrity of gaming in the state seriously and is continuing to monitor the situation and will provide any additional information when able,” he said.

Alabama fires head coach Brad Bohannon amid betting scandal

It remains to be seen what happens with Iowa but hours after Alabama fired Bohannon, The Athletic reported that Bohannon’s firing was indeed related to a potential Alabama baseball betting scandal that is under investigation by the program.

David Ubben and Andy Staples of The Athletic reported that Bohannon “was found to be connected with betting activity” that regulators had flagged.

Alabama had not directly linked the Bohannon firing to the betting investigation in its statement released Thursday announcing the firing, noting instead that Bohannon had been fired for violating the standards, duties and responsibilities of university employees, among other reasons.

The situation began unfolding when an independent integrity firm alerted the Ohio Casino Control Commission that there were two suspicious bets on the Alabama-LSU game on April 28.

The “suspicious wagering activity” took place at the BetMGM sportsbook at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio, and multiple states began to halt bets on Alabama baseball games, according to ESPN.